11 convicted in Guwahati abuse case, scribe let off

A local court has convicted 11 of the 16 accused in the Guwahati molestation case, which had shocked the nation earlier in the year. On July 9, these men had heckled and assaulted a young woman outside a bar. HT reports.

A local court has convicted 11 of the 16 accused in the GS Road molestation case, which had shocked the nation earlier in the year.

On July 9, these men had heckled and assaulted a young woman outside a bar on GS Road. A local television channel aired the footage, leading to a national furore.

The court, however, acquitted TV journalist Gaurav Jyoti Neog, who had been accused of inciting the crowd to molest the girl, and three others.

"Today's judgment has proved that the channel did not instigate the molestation," Neog said after the verdict.

The Kamrup chief judicial magistrate's court sentenced the men - including main accused Amarjyoti Kalita - to two years' rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 2,000 each.

Kalita, the prime accused, had initially eluded the investigators, but was later arrested from Varanasi.

An employee of Assam government's IT agency AMTRON, he was sacked after his role in the case came to light.

His counsel said they would challenge the verdict in the district and sessions court. Three others were acquitted for lack of evidence.